Tiberius lay dead, his faith still strong, even in his final moments: there were no regrets, no reconciliation. He believed what he did was truly right— a religious zealot till the very end.

It didn’t matter to me where his beliefs had lain; I had only been interested in one thing, and that was helping those around me while protecting myself. It was the reason why I killed Victor— now it was the reason why I killed Tiberius and his Holy Knights.

“We need to get out of here,” I said to Estia.

The Half Demon nodded, still in a slight daze for whatever reason. The city’s guards were coming, and I didn’t want to fight them, No— especially not them, if I could avoid it.

Estia ran ahead of me, but I paused for a moment, spinning around when a glint caught my eye. I spotted the lance of Tiberius fallen between the various corpses. It was shimmering, its Greater mana crystal at the tip of its shaft. It was valuable and small enough for me to grab.

It was one of the few mana tools here that still worked— that still had a working mana crystal, not destroyed from battle. I quickly ran back and grabbed the lance itself, hurrying off behind Estia. She carried Karna in her arms.

Behind us, I heard shouts. Voices called for us to stop. Useless cries which faded into the background, no different from the chatter and white noise of the crowds on a busy street on an ordinary day.

After all, I was used to running away.

We fled into the mines of Jahar’taw. But we didn’t just hide in the cave system; we would be found eventually. I didn’t know why I continued following the Dark Crusaders. I just had to make sure Karna was safe. And they didn’t really seem to shun me.

Not after I saved their lives.

I didn’t speak to Estia even as we navigated the dark tunnels. This mine had been owned by the Dark Crusaders— or at least, a sympathizer to their cause. They were used by Goblin miners, but now they were empty.

Everyone was fleeing. Not just into the mines. We continued on, a procession in the darkness, with the occasional dimly lit crystals lighting the path. We could use magic, yes. But the Goblins had dark vision.

While I didn’t have dark vision, I certainly had enough sense from working my way through darkness to follow the figures just ahead of me. It was damp, cold, and kind of musky. A shiver ran through my body, like the pricklings of insects crawling over my skin. And I was pretty sure the city’s sewers smelled better than this cave.

Or maybe now. I wasn’t entirely sure.

I didn’t puke, of course. I had seen terrible things, experienced the most grotesque of scenes. Not just with the Abominations overrunning Bys. But the aftermath— oh god, the aftermath was always worse.

The refugees who were overcome with disease and dysentery. The Noxeus plague which swept over the poor and the weak. Even things such as murder and torture and rape were common sights when I had traversed the Free Lands on my own.

I intervened when I could, but oftentimes, I’d stumble upon only the outcome. Dead bodies that had been lying, dumped and left to rot for days.

Look, I was used to disgusting things. That didn’t mean I was going to pretend that wading my way through the wet mines below the inner city of Jahar’taw wasn’t gross either.

At some point, the procession had to halt. Just for a brief break. I had lost sight of Estia and Karna at one point. She must’ve brought him to someone who could perform some ritual magic to heal him. I stuck close to Mahir, who covered the back of our group.

I nodded at him once we came to a stop, at a large cave chamber deep within the mines.

“Thank you.” I bowed my head slightly at him. “For supporting me with Karna against Estia.”

He grunted. “I didn’t do it for you. I just didn’t like the way that Apostle acted, treating us like fodder.” I smiled as he glanced away. “Also, you came back to help us just after. I always knew you meant well.”

“Hey,” I said, grinning, “I’d like to continue doing business with you guys, you know?”

Mahir chuckled. “Perhaps we will offer you better deals next time.” He paused, looking over at the sea of Dark Crusaders huddled together in the cave chamber. “...if we’ll even be in Jahar’taw by the end of this.”

“Where will you guys go?” I tilted my head to the site.

“We’re not sure yet,” he muttered, clearly distraught. “We have a footing just outside of the inner city. But now that public perception is centered on us— which has never been the case before in Jahar’taw— we’ll have to be a lot more covert. Especially since the Saintess is still out there. The Church will send her reinforcements.”

“Right… Lilith.” I shifted uncomfortably, knowing that the only reason why she was here was for me; it wasn’t something I had to tell anyone. I just felt a little bit responsible for what had been happening, even if I wasn’t truly at fault.

Emotions were a fickle thing.

“Have you seen where Karna went?” I asked, raising a brow.

“I believe Apostle Estia brought him to a little alcove right over there.” Mahir pointed out a corner where there was a berth of space from the crowds of Dark Crusaders.

I nodded. “Thanks. I need to check up on him— see if he’s fine.”

I know I had given him a healthy dose of healing potion which healed most of his injuries, but I was still worried. Anything could’ve gone wrong. I waded my way through the crowds, finally reaching the small open space where Estia and Karna were located.

The Half Demon stood just at the edge of a large spell circle on the ground. Two Goblins stood on either ends of the circle, casting a spell, chanting and murmuring to themselves. It was some sort of spell for healing.

I walked forward. “How is he?”

Estia glanced over at me, narrowing her eyes. “He’s fine.”

“That’s good,” I sighed in relief.

She remained silent for a moment. Then she finally spoke up. “Why did you come back?”

I blinked. I stared at Estia, who didn’t meet my gaze. Yet, I could tell that she was perplexed— puzzled. Confused by my actions. I shook my head. “I did it for him.” I pointed at Karna, who was lying at the center of the circle. He was awake and well, thank god. Just resting as they healed him. “I have a lot of problems— my own issues that I have to deal with. However, I can’t just focus on myself and what’s good for me. He’s my friend. I didn’t want him to die. And neither did he. So, I acted.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” she sputtered. Her gaze snapped towards me. “You could’ve died. Even if that woman is protecting you, she’s not invincible or all powerful! She couldn’t even save you when she was distracted by me, and I’m far weaker than she is.”

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “But I’m still alive right now, so that’s all that matters right?”

Estia glared at me. “You’ll get yourself killed one day.” Clicking her tongue, she stormed off.

There wasn’t anything else to say to her. I sat there, watching Karna until he fully recovered. The ritual was complete, and the pair of Goblins healing him helped prop hip up against the cave wall. He looked up at me, staring, not saying anything.

I waited for the other Goblins to leave. Only when I was alone with him didn I get up and sit myself by his side.

“Karna…”

“Melas,” he managed to get out. “I’m glad to see you’re alive.”

“I should be the one saying that.” I reached over to hug him, and he shirked away. “Oh, sorry.” I had almost forgotten that he was brusque— those types weren’t too keen on physical contact.

“It’s… alright. My body is just sore.” He tried to relax but he couldn’t help but tense up, even as he shifted.

I smiled, watching him. The two of us sat in silence for a while. It was awkward. Neither of us had anything to say, yet we had many things to say. It was the paradox of a reunion. A proper, real reunion. We were just happy to see each other again, not as enemies, but as friends.

After enough time had passed, finally, I gathered the courage to speak.

“I know I already said it earlier, but I’m sorry,”I said. I gestured helplessly, trying to explain. “I was afraid. I felt like I was. I felt betrayed by Victor, so I thought the worst could happen. I should’ve stayed. I shouldn’t have run—”

“You idiot.” He lightly knocked me across the head. I blinked.

“Wh—”

“You’re not supposed to apologize when you have done no wrong. That is a sign of weakness.”

“But I did—”

He raised his hand, and I shrunk back. “Uh, alright.”

Karna nodded. “You have grown quite a lot since I have last seen you,” he grunted. “But you are still weak. Not in your magic. Very much so in your physicality. But especially your mind.” He tapped a hand on my forehead.

I wasn’t wearing my mask anymore. And he had rough fingers. They hurt a little bit. “Ow.”

“You doubt yourself too much, Melas. As you do others. But you doubt yourself the most. Perhaps that is why you are still alive today, even after all you’ve been through. You say you should have returned, rather than fleeing when you killed Victor. But even I know not how I would’ve reacted. Let alone the others in that regiment who looked up to him. Or the Infernalis themselves. That is why you survived, even if you may have offended me.”

My eyes widened as Karna spoke. He empathized with my situation. He truly did. He glanced up at me, his round yellow eyes giving off a very faint hit of a glow in the darkness. I felt my lips curling up, only to jerk back when he was the one who hugged me.

“You—” I paused. He let go of me quickly enough, averting his gaze. I couldn’t see his face, even though I really wanted to. He must’ve had to muster up quite the courage to do that, so I didn’t try to do anything to make him even more uncomfortable.

Instead, I changed the subject.

“So, you’re a Dark Acolyte now, huh?”

“I am,” he said, still gathering himself.

“A Disciple— the same rank as Victor. Wasn’t that one of your goals?”

“It’s the first part of my goal, yes.” Karna breathed in and turned to face me. “I went straight to the Infernalis, with the recommendation of Gerritt. You remember him, right?”

“Of course I do.” Gerritt had been the first person to show me kindness after I escaped slavery from Bys. Even though he was a hulking size—- being an Orc and all— he wasn’t rough or gruff, but a kind and gentle giant. “You, Gerritt, Ihsan, and Victor too at a point— you guys were my heroes. You saved me.” I had seen them as valiant rebels opposing an evil empire. The kind you read about in stories.

My idealism was shattered, of course. I knew now that the situation was far more complex than that. People were complicated. Morality was gray. What could I do about it?

“How are they?” I asked, eyeing Karna.

“Gerritt is still a Dark Commander, although he has been tasked with a larger regiment. Ihsan follows him, the slacker that he is, has no desire to become anything more.” Karna scowled, and I giggled. He sighed. “But they have both been fine. Ihsan does what he always wants, and Gerritt is helping many of the oppressed around Anibes.”

“That’s good.” I smiled. They were fine. Which relieved me. I had no idea what happened to them since I left. If Abominations had gotten them or not. “I’d like to speak with them too.”

“Surely not to apologize?” Karna raised a brow.

“Well…”

He snickered. “Of course you want to. But… they don’t blame you. They never held you in contempt for it. I’m sure you expected that of Ihsan, but Gerritt too believes you did the right thing. He was most worried that it would cause you trouble.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “He’s too kind.”

“He really is.” Karna seemed slightly displeased by it, which only made me giggle some more.

I was glad. Very glad. A voice, however, drew our attention. Mahir and Estia called for us to continue our march through the caves, before we were somehow caught. I got to my feet, turning to Karna. He tried to get up, but I offered him a hand.

He blinked, and I spoke. “Come on. Don’t push yourself when you’re injured.”

There was a pause. Then the Goblin accepted my hand. “You’ve changed a lot, Melas. And yet, you really haven’t changed at all, have you?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing,” he murmured. “This scene is just… familiar.”

I cocked my head, but he pulled himself up with my help. We continued, following the procession as they left Jahar’taw’s inner city. We spent the rest of the time as we escaped catching up. Friends again. And for once, the world was right.